Topless women target Berlusconi as he votes in election

London: Three topless protesters targeted Italy's former premier Silvio Berlusconi as he went to a polling station in Milan to vote in the country's general election.

As voters queued at a polling station at a Milan school, the three half-naked women, who had the slogan "Basta Berlusconi" ("Enough With Berlusconi") scrawled on their backs, broke through a crowd of journalists.

The topless trio then jumped over some tables toward the former leader, but they failed to reach him.

According to Sky News, they were quickly detained by police and dragged away screaming.

Italian news reports said the three were members of the Femen protest group.

Polls opened in the country amid concern the outcome could lead to political gridlock in Europe's fourth largest economy.

Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister, is leading a centre-right coalition in the election and polls indicate he will come second to the centre-left.